A City of Poughkeepsie man was arrested Thursday after leading police on a high-speed chase through the city, which came to an end on the lawns of two Washington Street homes.

Officer Garth Mason was on Market Street at 6:37 p.m. when he saw a car, operated by Landocalrissan Butler, 27, of Winnikee Avenue, speeding and moving into the officer’s lane, almost striking his car, said Deputy Chief Tom Ghee.

Mason attempted to pull Butler’s vehicle over, Ghee said, but Butler allegedly did not comply and would not stop his vehicle.

Butler led Mason on a chase through several city streets, eventually ending up southbound on Washington Street, Ghee said.

There are many different factors that come into play when an officer decides whether to engage in a pursuit, and whether to continue or discontinue that pursuit, Ghee said. City police are in the process of conducting an internal review of the incident to determine whether all pursuit policies were followed.

While driving southbound on Washington, an 18-year-old Hyde Park woman driving a Saab, whose identity was not revealed, was attempting to make a left turn onto Taylor Avenue, Ghee said. Butler attempted to pass the woman’s vehicle, but wound up striking the driver’s side of her car.

Both cars left the road after the collision. One ended up on the lawn of 151 Washington St.; the other on the lawn next door.

Officers gave Butler several verbal commands to show his hands, but he ignored the orders, Ghee said. An officer was able to open Butler’s passenger door, remove him from the vehicle and put him to the ground. He also allegedly ignored commands to put his hands behind his back.

Butler was transported to Saint Francis Hospital for medical evaluation, but was released back into police custody several hours later, Ghee said. He was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony, aggravated unlicensed operation, misdemeanor reckless driving, and numerous vehicular and traffic violations. He was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance after officers allegedly found cocaine in his possession.

Butler was also arrested on a court warrant out of Dutchess County and a family court warrant out of Schenectady County, Ghee said.

The woman driving the Saab was transported to Saint Francis Hospital with head contusions, but her injuries did not appear to be serious at the time, Ghee said.
Butler was held overnight at the city jail pending arraignment.

According to Journal archives, Butler entered a guilty plea in county court on March 7, 2006, to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony. Butler told Judge Thomas J. Dolan he had five small bags of crack in his pocket Dec. 22, 2005, when police arrested him on Morgan Avenue. He said he intended to sell the drugs. In exchange for his plea, Butler was promised a sentence of six months in jail and five years on probation.